Williams Lake community discusses public safety concerns, ideas

Community safety survey available until Friday, July 31

Williams Lake community discusses public safety concerns, ideas Published 5:24 pm Thursday, July 16, 2026 Community safety was at the forefront of an in-person meeting in Williams Lake on Tuesday, July 15. Approximately 50 people attended a Community Safety Information Gathering Session in the Gibraltar Room at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex.

Before sharing the results so-far received from a survey that remains open until July 31, moderator Mike Simpson introduced delegates in attendance including Williams Lake Mayor Surinderpal Rathor, Coun. Michael Moses, Coun. Scott Nelson, Cariboo Prince George MP

Todd Doherty and Cariboo Regional District Chair Margo Wagner. In addition were City of Williams Lake Chief Administrative Officer Gary Muraca, Well-Being and Safety Coordinator Silvia Dubray, Williams Lake RCMP Staff. Sgt.

Brad McKinnon and Williams Lake Fire Department Chief Evan Dean. Attending online was Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Lorne Doerkson. “I’m looking forward to your input,” Rathor said, adding the information received will be going to Victoria.

“I know with the help of our MLA and our MP we will deliver everything we can. There’s nothing we can’t do as long as we stand together and work together, and let’s prove it again — tell us what we should do, what you want us to do, and I’m sure we’ll do it.” Moses thanked everyone for coming, and said he believes everyone can agree that their goals for the community, in meetings like this, are to achieve community safety ideally with a humane, caring and evidence-based approach.

“From what I can tell this is going to take a combination of many things including policing, courts, housing, recovery beds and support for services from groups like our Social Planning Council, Canadian Mental Health Association and Women’s Contact Society,” Moses continued, adding there are many other non-profit organizations that will require support. “This means that more than ever we’re going to need coordination from all forms of governments and non-profits if we want to achieve the changes that we’re hoping for and how we can get this coordinated work done.”

Nelson said the public is “pissed off” and stated the “soft” approach that has been taken over the past four years of trying to ensure a safe community through the decriminalization of drugs, along with a lack of facilities for involuntary treatment, has failed. “Williams Lake, like many other communities, are on the front-lines of a war-zone,” Nelson claimed, also expressing that a person could be walking at night and get “hacked” by a perpetrator who would shortly be released and back on the streets. “There are people today in Williams Lake that simply should not be on the streets, and it comes down to one thing — it’s called public safety,” Nelson added, also claiming offenders have caused millions of dollars in damages in Williams Lake in the last five years.

Doerkson thanked everyone in the audience, calling it a serious situation that has been developing in the community for a few years. He relayed how his last question during question period in the B.C. Legislative Assembly came from a conversation with the city and others regarding an assault of a RCMP officer in which the suspect was released several hours later. He said even the responding minister was shocked by the incident.

“I can appreciate it’s happening everywhere but we work here, we live here and so this is the community I’m really focused on,” Doerkson said of public safety issues, thanking the city for the collaboration and invitation. Simpson noted while some of the concerns are within the city’s control, many of them are within provincial and federal jurisdiction. “Having a public open forum and collecting input, trying to figure out how to address these things — not every community is doing that,” Simpson said.

“These challenges are common everywhere, so kudos for getting input and wanting to hear this input.” Doherty arrived late to the meeting after landing from Ottawa. “I’m really proud of our community for doing this,” Doherty added, thanking city council.

He said he gets a message everyday about crime within the community, which express the sentiment that it is not the same as it was growing up and certainly not the same as it was even within the last 10 years. Last year in Prince George, downtown businesses reported more than $4.5 million of losses due to crime and street disorder, according to a survey by Downtown Prince George and Prince George Chamber of Commerce. “Our communities are war zones,” Doherty said similarly as Nelson, noting until we start treating mental health and addictions in parity with physical health, and stop the revolving door of justice, we are going to continue seeing this.

“We have to take back control of our community and I applaud our community for coming together and doing that,” Doherty added, noting he was disappointed by the turnout, expecting it to be a full house. “I think as we move forward we’re going to find some solutions as to how we move forward with this.” Survey results Slides summarizing what information has to-date been collected by 110 survey responses was shared.

The Community Safety Survey launched last month and is accessible online until Friday, July 31 with a QR code and paper copies also available. Top 10 community safety concerns identified were: open drug use/visible drug activity (65); homelessness/vagrancy/street-entrenched population (55); feeling unsafe walking/harassment/panhandling (50); calls for mandatory treatment/incarceration/stricter punishments (40); crime, theft, violent/anti-social behaviour/repeat offenders (38); lack of mental-health/addiction/housing/wrap-around supports (34); insufficient policing/patrols/enforcement/court system frustration (32); fire/arsons/people starting fires (30); needles/human feces/garbage/paraphernalia/public filth (28); and vandalism/property damage/break-ins (26). Actions residents would like to see prioritized included: short term (increase visible patrols/foot patrols, enforce bylaws proactively, target prolific offenders, improve lighting and surveillance and identify arson suspects); service changes (relocate or redesign shelter/service locations, expand daytime supports, create youth shelter options and fund addiction/mental-health outreach); system advocacy (press provincial/federal partners for judicial/accountability, treatment capacity and legislative tools); community measures (small-scale downtown improvements such as lighting, streetscape, cleanliness, and balanced public messaging to avoid fear-mongering); and urgent public pressure for action (split between enforcement-first and community-first approaches).

Additionally, according to current survey responses, residents would also like to see council pursue a combined strategy with immediate safety/deterrence measures alongside scalable supports and provincial advocacy. Community takes to the mic First to take the mic was owner of Kit and Kaboodle, Carl Johnson, who said it was difficult to come up. “My store is under attack,” Johnson said with emotion in his voice.

He shared that, for more than several hours on Tuesday, July 14, people experiencing addiction and mental health issues were “lined up” in front of his store with one of them trying to kick in the windows before later throwing a rock. “My solution is Trump,” Johnson said. “Trump closed the border, he stopped people coming into the U.S.

We’re spending millions of dollars investing in our military, let’s get the military into our cities, let’s have them patrolling in the evenings.” McKinnon thanked Johnson for sharing that information and said he should know his concerns are heard, confirming the individual responsible is currently in jail and will be held to the fullest extent of the law. Dr. Rafiullah Sahibzada, who moved to Williams Lake in 2019, pointed to the need to look at the root cause, which he believes is a broken family system.

He said parents need to take responsibility and teach their children respect for everything, something that today is lacking. Sahibzada added laws need to be strengthened, and perpetrators should not be released within hours of committing a crime. Local business owner John Dell questioned if anyone has determined how much money is being spent in Williams Lake on social health services and programs, as maybe there is an opportunity for the funds to be reorganized and used in different formats.

Dell also questioned if any one was in attendance from the justice system and asked why not. “That’s where some of the problem seems to be coming from and they should be sitting in, listening to what these people have to say. We can’t leave them in an ivory tower, they need to become part of this process, so why isn’t a judge here.”

Muraca said they have not made such tabulations in their entirety, but will take the idea back as part of their report to council. He also said council has been consistently advocating a stronger justice system. McKinnon explained the justice system is made up of three distinct silos, including policing, the court system and corrections, that operate in some type of collective measure but also independently of one another.

“I can speak to policing related questions and concerns, but I’m not in position to comment on the other two silos.” Another resident questioned if anyone from the Ministry was in attendance, as they said they had an “uncontrollable” 13-year-old boy placed with a 95-year-old woman. “I’m wondering why they’re not involved in this either,” she said.

“That’s a good start when they’re young to get them help then.” Longtime Williams Lake resident, Nicole Tupper, who operates Loyalty Autoworx with her partner Chuck, responded to Doherty’s remarks on the number of attendees. “I’m surprised by the amount of people that are here because people have given up.

There’s nothing that we can do. It’s the same old song, same old dance,” Tupper said. “I understand mental health, I understand drug addiction — my heart breaks, my heart bleeds for these people.

But when does it become the onus on them? Why is it always on us? It’s frustrating.”

Dr. Sahibzada also suggested additional mental health services at Cariboo Memorial Hospital. Another community member took aim at the choice of words such as “war,” which they said insinuates enemies and might prevent people from wanting to reach out for help. “I think we have to remember that these people, as much damage as they have caused, as much stress they have put on everybody — they’re still our brothers, our sisters and they’re not the enemy,” he said, suggesting bringing them back into the fold and contributing to community projects.

Ruth Lloyd, a member of Williams Lake Citizens on Patrol, encouraged everyone to join the volunteer group that keeps the city safe by acting as the “eyes and ears” of the RCMP. “The more of us there are the safer our community is going to be,” Lloyd said, recalling when Williams Lake was the crime capital [of Canada] and did an in-depth, multifaceted, community-based approach with people coming together and choosing to back the community.

“And it worked,” Lloyd said. “It’s not simple and it takes a lot of people and input, but I think we can do something.” Lloyd suggested breathing life back into downtown Williams Lake, which often becomes a “ghost town” after 5 p.m., and noted supporting business would make a huge difference.

Thursday Performances in the Park, she said, positively change the atmosphere of the park. McKinnon said Lloyd’s suggestion holds relevance and noted the Williams Lake Stampede injected thousands of additional people into the city, with public spaces busy and vibrant and police well resourced. “If it’s being used for lawful, appropriate things, people tend to stay away who may be there to engage in different activities,” McKinnon remarked.

Muraca said it was important to note that while some of the agencies might not be in attendance, they have all been collaborating for the purpose of the meeting. Responses will also be compiled at the end in collaboration. Anna Chuvabata shared about a new program launched in April called Community-based Employment Services that she is the supervisor of.

The program provides free, personalized outreach to help people facing challenges such as housing, health or other personal barriers, find and keep jobs. Pharmacist and associate owner of Williams Lake Shoppers Drug Mart Erin Trott said she has seen both sides when it comes to community safety. “Addictions and homelessness is a big part of this, and the state we’re in with the provincial drug crisis is different than what we’ve ever been in,” Trott said.

Trott believes the system is broken and has failed to give people the social supports to succeed in their lives. She said she has been asked why she lets people come into her business when they steal from her. “Somebody has to help, somebody has to give them that level of care or they’re never going to get the help they need to succeed.”

In closing comments, Wagner encouraged Williams Lake city council to team up with other communities experiencing similar conditions in advance of the 2026 UBCM Convention taking place Sept. 14-18, where she said they should also present beneficial suggestions and solutions. “If you can outnumber the government at the table it makes them sit up and take notice,” Wagner said.